So, you’ve been waiting to be recognised for your hard work in the form of pay rise, but it doesn’t look like its going to happen any time soon. Like so many other Australian’s, it been a while since you last received an increase and you’re hoping this is the year your employer chooses to ‘show me the money’.
The simple reality just hoping your employer proactively does the ‘right thing’ is a hit and miss strategy at best. Among the most important steps you can take to ensure you earn what you deserve, include these:
- Own your job. Don’t just turn up to work and do what you have to. Understand the important outcomes your job creates and choose to care about ensuring those results are achieved. For example, if you work in a service role, look for opportunities to earn customer loyalty through every interaction. In other words, do more than simply meet the customers baseline expectations, seize the opportunities that present to go above and beyond.
Taking full ownership includes putting your hand up when you need help, or reaching key objectives is proving to be difficult. Employers are entirely more likely to pay more to the people on their team who they can rely on to strive to do their best. Being proactive and accountable are essential to earning a reputation for being an indispensable member of the team, whose worth paying a little more to keep.
- Understand what you’re worth. There is a range within which most employers are going to be willing to pay for a particular job to be done. Do your research and have a good understanding of what that range is. Access freely available salary surveys online, talk to industry colleagues and reach out to recruiters.
Next reflect the depth of your experience and standard of your performance, and decide where within that range you believe you should be paid. As a general rule, if you have 2 – 3 years’ experience and are a strong performer, the midpoint of the market range is a reasonable place to start. If you have more experience and regularly exceed expectations, it’s reasonable to expect your employer to be more competitive.
If you are unsure how your performance or potential is perceived, have honest conversations with your manager and colleagues.
- Put your hand up. Talk to your manager about your desire to earn a pay rise in 2019. The sooner they understand your hopes and expectations the better. Asking to be considered for an increase during performance appraisal time may be too late to allow you to have any direct influence on the outcome.
Avoid the all too common mistake of raising the question at the start of the year and then holding your breath for the outcome you want. Check in with your manager on how you are tracking throughout the year.
- Grow. Ask your manager what they believe it will take for you to be viewed as deserving of an increase. Understand if there are skills you need to master or performance improvements you need to make, early in the year.
Work with a coach or mentor to grow in the ways you need to. Leverage your manager, but look also for other people who are able to share the lessons they have learned and guide you to achieve your goals. Be willing to look into the mirror of truth and take ownership of the things you still need to achieve in order to earn more money.
- Expect fairness. The simple truth is, some employers are not fair and have little desire to pay more than they absolutely have to. Unfortunately some aren’t even willing to do what the law or agreements require of them. Do your part to earn an increase, but expect also that your employer is both lawful and ethical in their remuneration practices.
Seek advice from outside of your organisation if you doubt your employer’s integrity. At the end of the day, if your employer isnt willing to do the right thing it’s definitely time to move on.
Karen Gately, founder of Corporate Dojo, is a leadership and people-management specialist. Karen works with leaders and HR teams to drive business results through the talent and energy of people. She is the author of The People Manager’s Toolkit: A Practical guide to getting the best from people (Wiley) and The Corporate Dojo: Driving extraordinary results through spirited people. For more information visit www.corporatedojo.com or contact [email protected].